Pencil



May 26, 1931. J, P, LYNN 1,806,632

PENCIL Filed July 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hllllll'v l May 26, 1931. J, P, LYNN 1,806,632

PENC IL Filed July 20. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 xllll' Z22/672107@ .207171 PZ 7171,

Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN P. LYNN, OIE CHICGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO DUR-O-LITE PENCIL COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS Application led July 20,

This invention relates to pencils, and has for its object to provide an improved pencil, whereby the lead may be fed out of the tip andV may be retracted therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pencil of simplified construction which is operated by a relative rotation between tlie body and the tip of the pencil, and which has the capability of feeding and retracting the lead.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pencil i n which the operating mechanism is carried by the tip portion, and can be removed therewith from the body of the mpencil.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pencil of this type comprising. a lead carrier permanently mounted in the tip portion and adapted to be longitudinally moved therethrough.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities will later more fully appear.

My invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while I have shown herein preferred embodiments, I wish the same to be understood as illustrative only and not limiting the scope of my invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a pencil embodying my invention, the upper part being broken away,

Fig. 2 is. a similar view of the lower end of the pencil showing the operative parts 1n a different position,

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an elevational view o f the lead carrier before assemblin in the tip portion,

Fig. 5 is a sectional e evation of a moditied pencil embodying my invention,

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the lower end of the said pencil showing the operative parts in a different position, v

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of the lower end of the propeller. U

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of drawings, the 50 pencil comprises a body portion 10 which 1929. Serial N0. 379,658.

may be provided at its upper end with a magazine chamber 11 and preferabl the usual eraser (not shown). Through t e intermediate portion ofthe body extends a bore 12 which is adapted to accommodate freely, a threaded stem or propeller 13. Said stem is provided near its upper end with a flattened portion 14 which extends on either side into slots 15 which open into the bore 12. Towards the lower end of the body, the bore 12 and slots 15 open into an enlarged bore 17 which is adapted to receive for longitudinal movement therein the upper portion of the lead carrier 16.

Near its lower end the body portion 10 is provided with a cylindrical part 18 of slightly reduced diameter. Said part 18 is preferably provided with a shell orbushing 19 which is adapted frictionally to engage the upper cylindricalportion 20 of the tip member 21 so that the tip member 21 may be rotated relatively to the body portion 10 when desired. Below the portion 18, the body 10 is preferably provided with a frusto-conical portion 22 which lits into the conical shell of the tip portion 21.

The metal of the conical portion of the tip 21 thickens downwardly towards its point where it is provided with a longitudinal outlet 23 which is adapted to contact with the lead extending therethrough, to guide and hold saine. The tip portion 21 is provided with internal recesses 24 and 25 for the reception of parts of the lead carrier 16.

The lead carrier 16 consists essentially of a relatively long narrow tubular member. At its upper end, its walls converge to a relatively thick neck portion 26 which is internally threaded to co-operate with the threaded stem 13. Said upper end is cut longitudinally as shown at 27, so that the threaded portions 26 are held in spring threaded relation to the stein 13, so that when these parts are relatively rotated and relative longitudinal movement therebetween is prevented the threads thereon will slip over each other, and jamming or injury to the parts is e't'ectively avoided. At its lower end the carrier 16 is provided with downwardly extending springy jaws 2S which define a bore axial with respect to the lcarrier 16 and opening into the main hollow portion thereof. The jaws 28 are adapted to firmly grip a lead 29. As will be readily seen in Fig. 2, the jaws 28 enter into the recess 25 and the shoulder 30 of the carrier 16, which is located immediately above the jaws 28, enters into the recess 24, when the carrier 16 is in its lowermost position.

Somewhat above the shoulder 30 a helical slot 31 is cut in the cylindrical wall of the carrier 16. The slot 31 has the same direction as the threads on the stem 13,-b`oth being preferably right-handed, but the pitch of the slot- 31 is very much larger than the pitch of the threaded stein 13. The extent of the slot 31 defines the amount of retraction of the lead which is possible. As shown in the drawings, approximately one turn is sufficient. The said slot is adapted to receive the projecting end of a pin 32 which is carried by a frustro-conical block 33 rigidly mounted within the tip 21. The block 33 is bored to provide an opening 34 which provides an easy fit for the lead Carrier 16.

In assembling the tip portion of the pencil the lead carrier 16 is threaded through the bore of the block 33 and the pin 32 is inserted in a suitable opening bored radially in the block 33 so that the inner end of said pin enters the slot 31. The block 33 is then inserted in the tip 21 and made rigid thereto in any suitable manner, for example, defor mation of the tip 21 and block 33 by means of a punch as shown at 35. As will be clearly Seen in the drawings, the pin 32and the opening in the block 33 are stepped or shouldered and the outer end of the pin is engaged by the tip portion 21 so that the pin 32 is held against movement in either direction.

At its lower end the threaded stem or ropeller 13 is provided with a push ro 36 which is of smaller diameter and is unthreaded. The lower end of the push rod 36 is adapted to bear upon the upper end of the lead 29, and being of slightly less diameter than said lead is adapted to extend into the tip opening 23 as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the pencil is as follows: Assuming that the pencil contains no lead, the body portion 10 and the tip portion 21 are rotated in counterclockwise direction. The friction between the propeller 13 and the threaded neck 26 is suicient to cause the lead carrier 16 to rotate with the threaded stein 13. Consequently the stem 13 and the carrier 16 move upward rapidly for a short distance until the pin 32 contacts with the lower end of the slot 31. Thereafter the stem 13 is progressively unthreaded out of the upper end of the carrier 16 until it attains its uppermost position. Thereupon a lead 29 is inserted through the bore 23, the upper part of the lead passing through the jaws 28 through the interior of the lead carrier 16 until its end contacts with the rod 36. The parts now have the relation shown in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the tip 21 together with the associated arts may be removed from the body 10, t e threaded stem 13 removed from the lead carrier and the lead inserted therethrough from the rear.

When it is necessar to feed lead out of the tip portion 23, the bo y 10 is rotated in clockwise direction with respect to the tip 21 which causes the threaded stem 13, the carrier 16 and the lead 29 to move downwardl as a unit until the carrier arrives at the position thereof, shown in Fig 2. With continued relative rotation between the body 10 and tip 21 the stem 13 is caused to thread vthrough the threaded neck 26 of the carrier so that the push rod 36 expels the lead to the desired extent. If at any time it is desired to retract the lead the body 10 is rotated in counterclockwise direction relative to the tip portion 21. The friction between the stem 13 and the .neck 26 of the lead carrier 16 being greater than that between the slot 31 and the pin 32, the stem 13, lead carrier 16 and lead 29 are thereb retracted as a unit.

When the lead is ally consumed, the operative parts will have the position shown in Fig. 2, the rod 36 extending to the outer end of the bore 23. It will be noted that the pin 32 is at the upper end of the slot 31, and that the lower end of the threaded portion of the stem 13 abuts against the shoulder 30 of the carrier 16.- If rotation in the clockwise direction, is continued so that the threaded s tem 13 rotated relatively to the lead -carrier 16, the spring jaws constituting the neck 26. will jump over the threads on the stem 13 so that no injury to the parts will result. The same safety feature is operative to protect the parts from injury, owing to continued counterclockwise rotation after the operative parts have attained the position shown in Fig. 1. l

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fi s. 5 to 8 is generally similar to that above escribed and similar parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. Modified parts are indicated by the same reference numerals and are diiierentiated by the addition of primes thereto.

In this modification, the lead carrier 16 consists of a relatively long tube open at its upper end and provided at its lower end with a shoulder 30 from which depend the lead clutching jaws 28. Said tube 16 ismade of relatively light metal and an exterior helical groove 31 is formed therein, which groove extends from the upper end of the carrier 16 to a point 31" somewhat above the jaws 28. The opening 34 in the block 33 is threaded interiorly so as to make easy engagement with the groove 31 and the end 31 of said groove is so positioned that the tube 16 is capable of a limited longitudinal movement on the tip 21, its extreme positions being shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The formation of the groove 31 results in the production of an interior helical thread 37 in the carrier 16.

The propeller 13 is provided with a rectangular portion 14 which co-operates with a rectangularv bore 12 in the upper part of the body 10. The bore 12 gives into a bore 17 of circular cross-section which is adapted to receive the upper part of the lead carrier 16. At its lower end the propeller 13 is provided with an extension or push rod 36 of smaller diameter, which push rod is intended to co-operate with the lead 29. Adjacent the push rod 36 the propeller is provided with projections 38I which are adapted to engage the interior of the lead carrier 16 between adjacent convolutions of the thread 37. Adjacent the projections 38, the propeller 13 is slit at 39 so as to form springy members 4() which are bowed outwardly so as to exert pressure upon the thread 37 when they are located in the threaded portion of the carrier 16 as shown in Fig. 5. When the springy members 40 are located in the lowermost unthreaded portion of the carrier 16', as shown in Fig. 6, they do not contact with, or exert only a slight pressure on the sides thereof.

The operation of the pencilis as follows: Assuming the lead to be exhausted the tip 21 together with the propeller 13 is removed from the body 10. The propeller is then removed from the carrier and a lead inserted into the upper end thereof. The propeller is then threaded into the carrier so as to feed the lead downwardly through the jaws 28. The tip 21 is then applied to the body 10 and the pencil is ready for use. If desired the pencil may be loaded by retracting the propeller 13 to almost its full-extent and inserting the lead 29 through the outlet 23.

When the body l0 is rotated in clockwise direction relatively to the tip 21 so as to propel the lead outwardly, if the carrier 16 is in its uppermost position, as seen in Fig. 5, the friction between the member 39 and the thread 37 being greater than the friction between the carrier 16 and the block 33, the carrier feeds downwardly through said block until the shoulder 30 and the jaws 28 contact with the recesses 24 and 25 respectively as shown in Fig. 6. Continued rotation causes the projections 38 to feed downwardly'between the convolutions of the thread 37, so that the push rod 36 causes the lead to feed out through the tip outlet. 23.

Relative rotation between the tip and body in the opposite or counter-clockwise direction, owing to the friction between the members 39 and the thread 37, causes retraction of the carrier 16 until the end 31" of the groove31 comes into contact with the lower end of the thread on the block 33. This movement enables a limited retraction of the lead 29 to be effected when desired.

As the lead is progressively consumed, it is fed downwardly by the push rod 36 until it is finally expelled from the jaws 28 through the outlet 23. /The parts are now in the position shown in'Fig. 6 from which it will be seen that continued feeding rotation is incapable of jamming or damaging the parts.

- I claim:

1'. A pencil com rising a body portion and a relatively ,rotatalile tip portion, a lead carrier threadedly mounted on said tip portion and having a limited movement thereon, and lead propelling means co-operating with said body portion and said lead carrier and adapted to be actuated by relative movement between said body and tip portions'and to effect said limited movement.

2. A pencil comprising two relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier threadedly mounted for limited helical movement in one of said parts and lead propelling means co-operating with said lead carrier and the other part and adapted to effect said movement.

3. A pencil comprising two relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier threadedly mounted in one of said parts so as to be capable of a limited helical movement relative thereto and lead propelling means operative by relative rotation of said parts and adapted to effect said helical movement.

4. A pencil comprising a body portion and a relatively movable tip portion, a lead carrier threadedly mounted on said tip portion and having a limited helical movement thereon, and lead propelling means co-operating with said body portion and said lead carrier and adapted to be actuated by relative movement between said body and tip portions and to effect said helical movement.

5. A pencil comprising two relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier threadedly mounted for limited movement in one of said parts and lead propelling means rotatable with the other part and connected with said carrier by a threaded connection and adapted to effect said movement.

6. A pencil comprising two relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier threadedly mounted in one of said parts so as to be capable of a limited helical movement relative thereto and lead propelling means operative by relative rotation of said parts and adaptedl to effect said helical movement and the feeding of the lead through said carrier.

7. A pencil comprising two relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier mounted in one of said parts so as. to be capable of a limited movement relative thereto, and lead propelling means threaded into said lead carrier and adapted to be moved longitudinally portion so as to by relative rotation of said parts and to effect said limited movement.

8. A pencil comprising two relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier threadedly mounted for limited movement in one of sald part-s, lead propelling means rotatable with the other part and adapted to eii'ect said limited movement, and yielding springy threaded means connecting said carier and propelling means. h

9. A pencil comprising tivo relatlvely rotatable parts, a lead carrie `mounted 1n one of said parts so as to be capable of a limited movement relative thereto, yielding springy threaded members on said carrier, lead propelling means threaded into said members and adapted to be moved longitudinally by relative rotation of said parts and to effect said limited movement threaded into yielding spring threaded members on said carrier.

10. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tip portion frietionally held together in readily separable and readily rotatable relation, a lead carrier mounted in said tip portion so as to be capable of a limited helical movement therein, and a lead propeller rotatable with said body portion and threaded into said carrier and adapted to eiect said helical movement.

11. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tip portion rictionally held together in readil)l separable and readily rotatable relation, a lead carrier mounted in said tip be capable of a limited helical movement therein, springy threaded members on said carrier, a lead propeller rotatable with said body portion and threaded into said members on said carrier and adapted to effect said helical movement.

12. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tip portion frictionally held together in readily separable and readily rotatable relation, a lead carrier, a relatively short helical slot of large pitch in said carrier, a projection on said tip portion extending thereinto, a threaded lead propeller having projections engaging said body portion so as to rotate therewith, said propeller being threaded into the upper end of said lead carrier.

18. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tip portion frictionally held together in readily separable and readily rotatable relation, a lead carrier permanently mounted in said tip portion, a relatively short helical slot of large pitch in said carrier, a block rigidly held in said tip portion, said block being bored to permit the carrier to move freely therethrough, a pin rigidly carried by said block extending into and engaging a bore in said body portion so as to rotate therewith, and a threaded propeller engaging threaded yielding spring members on said lead carrier and having integral therewith a push rod adapted to engage a lead and feed and expel same through and from said carrier and said tip portion.

14. A pencil comprising two relatively rotatable parts, a lead carrier having a'threaded connection with one of said parts and adapted to have a limited movement relative thereto, and a lead propeller rotatable with the other part and having a threaded connection with the lead carrier, the latter threaded connection comprising means offering greater resistance to rotation than the former threaded connection.

15. A pencil comprisinor a bod 7.portion and a tip portion rictionally hel together in readily separable and readily rotatable relation, a lead carrier having a threaded connection with said tip portion and adapted to have a limited movement relative thereto, and a lead propeller rotatable with the body portion and having a threaded connection with the lead carrier, the latter threaded connection comprising means offering greater resistance to rotation than the former threaded connection.

16. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tip portion rictionally held together in readily separable and readily rotatable relation, a threaded lead carrier movably mounted in said tip portion, a lead propeller rotatable with the body portion and in threaded relation to said lead carrier and means on said propeller adapted to exert friction upon said carrier.

17. A pencil comprising a body portion and a tip portion frictionally held together in readily separable and readily rotatable relation, a lead carrier interiorly and exteriorly threaded from its upper end to a point somewhat above its lower end, means on said tip portion engaging the lower part of the exteriorly threaded part of the carrier to permit a limited helical movement of the carrier in the tip, and a lead propeller adapted to rotate with the body portion and engage the interiorly threaded portion of the carrier, said propeller being provided-with spring parts which frictionally engage the interior threads when the propeller is in its upper positions and rotate freely in the unthreaded part of the carrier when the propeller is in its lowermost position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of July, 1929.

JOHN P. LYNN. 

